Mattimore, Pitcher, Philadelphia Athletics, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This is a baseball card of Mattimore, a pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics, printed by Goodwin & Company as part of the Old Judge series. The image captures Mattimore mid-stretch, his arms extended, a pose that echoes the ancient gesture of preparation, akin to a warrior readying for battle. The simple baseball uniform with its vertical stripes around the torso and horizontal stripes around the sleeves, evokes the attire of athletes across time. Consider, for instance, the Minoan Bull-Leapers from Knossos, their bare-chested torsos also conveying athleticism and agility. Mattimore's focused gaze and tensed muscles create an emotional intensity, a readiness that speaks to the deeper human drive for competition and excellence. The image resonates with our collective memory of athleticism. Though separated by millennia, both the baseball player and the bull-leaper tap into a shared psychological space of strength, determination, and the human pursuit of mastery. We see in Mattimore not just a baseball player, but a continuation of a timeless human drama.